Top Ten Reasons Why Men Shoot Sporting Clays

    I'm sure the topic of why men shoot sporting clays has been discussed before.  I'm also sure women wonder why men do anything they do.  I didn't include women in this article because it's impossible for men to talk for women, let alone figure them out.  This discussion could apply to many other activities like golf, fishing, hunting, or even stamp collecting.  Some of the items on my list could overlap with others, but here it goes.

1. Genetic-  Does the male Y chromosome contain a gene that makes us competitive? As I mentioned in an earlier post, in early times, some men were better hunter-gatherers than they were crop tenders, or herders. 
2. Risk Taking-  This item may relate to number 1, but I felt it should be considered separately.  Shooting sports are dangerous if not done carefully. 
3. Exercise-  Walking between stations is good exercise, unless you have a friend who has a golf cart.  It is not a lot of exercise getting in and out of a cart.  Ha.

4. Competition- Men receive personal satisfaction, a "high", showing their prowess in the presence of other shooters.
5. Family-  Many men were introduced to shooting by a family member and relish the memories of these people and events.
6. Social -  Shooting sporting clays provides men an opportunity to meet others and make strong, lasting relationships.
7. Mental Release (Relaxation)-  Every man needs a way to escape the pressures of work, family life, or political realities.  I have noticed that breaking targets may relieve aggressive feelings in men.  Nobody cares if you totally kill or destroy the target.
8. Problem Solving-  Sporting clays provides a myriad of challenges of which gun, which ammunition, which positioning techniques, or which mental posturing works best.  Shooters either consciously or subconsciously work on these challenges each time they shoot.  I have to admit these challenges keep me coming back to the course each week.
9. Self-Esteem-  Sporting clays provides a man with an opportunity to "stand out" and be noticed.  Being physically fit and healthy probably could make the shooter better, but it is not as essential as in other competitive sports.  (I say that because I do look in the mirror.)  Sporting clays is also more age independent than other sports.  Men admire older men who can still shoot well.
10. Discipline-  Shooting sporting clays (successfully) requires that a shooter uses the same techniques over and over, plans, plots, and tests.  Mental discipline is equally important.  Have you ever had to shoot a round quickly to get home for an appointment?  You usually don't have a good day.

    I hope you like this list and it is different from others that you have read.  It was very difficult to define precisely the differences between each of the ten categories.  Perhaps I could sum it all up and say sporting clays is fun and these ten categories define having fun for men.  Have I left out some important ideas that you have?  How would you rank them?

“If you're not making mistakes, you're not taking risks, and that means you're not going anywhere. The key is to make mistakes faster than the competition, so you have more changes to learn and win.”
 John W. Holt

Have You Ever Heard a Shooter Say This?

    As I visited different sporting clays facilities, I heard many repeated sayings or expressions.  Some I can mention here; others I cannot because they were said in disgust, not fit for some peoples' ears.  Are these expressions global to all sporting clays shooters, or are they the lingo of regional shooters?  Probably a little of both.

    Here is a list of the expressions and a brief description of what I think they mean:

• "Light, but right!"  The clay was chipped slightly to the relief of the shooter.
• "A chipped target counts the same as a dusted target on the score sheet."  Same as above.
• "Shoot the bird before it transitions."  The bird is easier to break before it changes its trajectory and speed.
• "That wasn't a chip off the target, it was a blowing leaf."  A friendly tease to a fellow shooter.
• "I shot behind the target."  A good excuse for missing the bird, but the shooter probably doesn't know why the target was missed.
• "Keep your head on the stock, dummy."  Usually said when a shooter breaks a pair of birds after missing the previous pair.
• "A real bird flying by caught my eye."  Probably a real distraction.
• "Nothing but dust!"  The expression of onlookers when a bird is hit hard.
• "Put your pattern in close proximity of the presented target."  Usually said when someone complains that a particular target presentation looks too difficult.
• "I stopped the gun, pulled the trigger and missed the target."  Every shooter has this problem, especially as they mature in shooting technique.
• "Oops, I forgot to take the safety off and about bent the trigger."  The safety on some guns must be turned off after the gun is broken open or reloaded.
• "I know a good gunsmith who could fix that safety problem for you."  This expression usually follows the one above.
• "I just can't see the targets properly today."  We all have excuses to rationalize our misses.
• "Even a blind squirrel gets a nut sometimes." Said after someone breaks all the targets at a station.
•  "You ever have a bad day shooting when you just want to get it over with so you can come back the next time sooner?" Really having a bad day.
• "This year I decided to be more positive;  I positively missed that target." Enough said.
• "You didn't miss the target because of the jerk of the gun; it was the jerk on the gun,"  A great description of my shooting.

    This blog turned into a longer expressions list than I had planned, but I hope you enjoyed them.  What is your favorite expression when shooting sporting clays?  I am sure there are many funny ones you have heard.

    How about my usual gripe?  I am amazed about the price of reloading supplies.  Some local suppliers charge unrealistic prices because they know there is not much competition in the area.  I find it difficult to drive 100 miles and rationalize the cost of driving there along with the safety risk.  Not all shooters trust the Internet to order supplies and don't have the money to order in large quantities.  What do you do?

"One nice thing about egotists: they don't talk about other people." - George Carlin

   

So, How About Those Stoegers and Other "Cheaper" Guns?

    As I promised in earlier posts, I wanted to talk about my experiences with different shotguns, especially the Stoeger brand.  Many discussion sites refer to the Stoeger as the "farmer's gun"; good enough to shoot an occasional rabbit or ground hog, but not a true sportsman's shotgun.  Is it true that the shotgun buyer gets more reliability and precision as the price of the gun increases?  Does an Audi make you a better driver than a Hyundi driver?  Humm....  Do Sporting Clays shooters shoot a very expensive gun for the same reasons that they live in too expensive homes, drive too expensive cars, or wear too expensive clothes?  The very people who complain about "throw-away" shotguns are the very ones who could most easily afford to replace cheaper, unusable shotguns.

    I have asked shooters why they shoot such an expensive shotgun in Ohio's unpredictable weather.  Here are some answers I received:

1. "You get what you pay for."
2. "This gun guarantees better precision in my shooting; I break more targets."
3. "Cheaper guns need more repair, or could fall apart, or explode."
4. "Because I can afford one."
5. "Because I didn't have one."
6. " I look good carrying it."
7. "I always wanted one."
8. "My wife told me I had to buy one." (Obviously tongue-in-cheek!)
9. "Serious shooters use serious equipment."
10. "This gun feels good when I hold it."

    Which of the above statements can you identify with?  Are any of the statements entirely true?  No, I suggest.  Has anyone on the  Internet or the nay-sayers on the Forum sites presented scientific data identifying the number of shots a Stoeger or other "off brand" can withstand before it falls apart or malfunctions?  Not that I have seen.  I think the shotgun a Sporting Clays shooter uses depends more on personal preference than quality or precision.  I am the first to admit that the small percentage of shooters that pull the trigger thousands of time a month at competitions must have better equipment.  Did I just say that or does that expensive gun make them feel more confident or more competent?  What do you think?  Has it been your observation that superior shooters can hit targets very well regardless of the brand of gun they use?

    I chose to use Stoegers because they are cheaper and I can afford to have a greater variety of gauges with different barrel lengths, etc.  (Maybe I have a hidden urge to collect guns?) I can testify that I have not had one problem with Stoegers. (Hear me knocking on wood?)  I have had to repair my 1187 and Browning Ultra XS.  I have endured teasing and friendly insults about my Stoegers.  "You hit both targets, the Condor has landed!  Squawaak!"  "You would have hit that target using a real shotgun."  Stoegers feel good, shoot well, and break targets...for me.  (I shoot 100 to 200 rounds a week.)

    I am not trying to convince readers to go out and buy a Stoeger solely on my say so.  I am trying to convince readers that they shoot their own preference in shotguns.  Why are shotgunning forums so over-run with "brand" bragging?  Some of the best strengths that attract people to Sporting Clays are the great availability of different guns, ammunition, courses, clothing, and the people who use them.  There is no perfect gun, no perfect ammunition, no perfect course, or no perfect clothing, let alone a perfect person.  Some shotgun owners remind me of the person who always has to "one up" all of your stories.  " Well now, my collector Birdbuster gun has......."  You fill in the blank. 
    Technique that comes from trial and error (Boy,  have I erred at times!), practice, and some good heart-felt advice can and will make for a better shooter.  (I'm too cheap for lessons.)  Worrying about others' opinions will not.
    Old Man Philosophy:  Shooters, like golfers, depend more on their equipment than themselves for success in breaking targets.
    Thank you for reading my posts.  I hope I have been able to provide you with "food for thought" and some reinforcement for your thoughts.

    "I have a very strict gun control policy: if there's a gun around, I want to be in control of it."- Clint Eastwood